Witnesses say prior-authorization delays strand wheelchair users; bill would require 72-hour decisions

Summary

At a May 8 House committee hearing, advocates testified that delays in Medicaid prior authorization for repairs to complex rehabilitation technology leave Oregon residents unable to work or at health risk; Senate Bill 549A would require the Oregon Health Authority or coordinated care organizations to decide repair requests within 72 hours.

The House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care heard public testimony May 8 on Senate Bill 549A, which would require the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) or a coordinated care organization (CCO) to respond to prior-authorization requests for repairs to complex rehabilitation technology within 72 hours.

Advocates said the change is urgent because delays in repairing wheelchairs and other assistive devices can confine people at home, jeopardize safety and cost jobs. "Everyone deserves the tools they need to be fully included in society," Matthew Sears, testifying for the Oregon Developmental Disabilities Coalition, told the committee.

The bill’s backers described repeated, long delays under current practice and testified that faster prior-authorization decisions would reduce harms. Emily Grama, executive director of The Arc Oregon, said…

Witnesses say prior-authorization delays strand wheelchair users; bill would require 72-hour decisions

Summary

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